I thought I'd have a little fun with the freezing temps last night, so I left the overhead sprinkler on in the garden. Look what I woke up to!

The "ice wall" in the background is really a 6 foot chickenwire and cedar post fence. Don't know if you can make out the Christmas lights hung from the tree on the right to the sprinkler post in the middle.

This is a pic of three foot long icicles stuck to last year's morning glories on a guy wire that helps hold up a telephone pole:

Here in Texas, we don't get much ice but maybe once every two or three years, so this is a strange sight for us. Even when we do get it, it's NOTHING like this. My neighbors were calling each other to come see it! LOL! Just beautiful!

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 03, 2002

Answers

Heck, that's just normal Indiana weather! You Texans ain't right in the head (apologies to Vicki). (:o> Neat Pix!

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), March 03, 2002.

being from arkansas, I know how you feel wingnut. But 9 years ago we moved to indiana, so I am very used to the ice. These are beautiful pics wingnut, Im sure you treasure them. I would. Kristean

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

And who said homesteaders don't know how to have fun? Great pictures, and I know how you feel about getting some winter weather, down here in Georgia we just love ice and snow since we hardly ever get any.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), March 03, 2002.

Looks just like my backyard after the last ice storm that blew through Kansas - leaving us with no power for 4 days! Sure was pretty though... :-) Glad to see you're having fun with the weather!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Remember last Christmas (2001) the ice storm that hit SE OK., Ark, well we lost ton of trees, probably 6 acres ofthem through out not to mention fence lines. No utilities, try 13 days. I was not a happy camper!! You in Texas have ice, we got 3 inches of snow yesterday. Now, where I lived 4 years ago that would have been a laugh. NWestern corner of Ill., and then once I lived in the Utah Mountains. That was snow!! But, why did we always have our utilities and here in OK. if it looks like a storm forget power.

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), March 03, 2002.

Great pictures!

This goes along with that saying "You know you're a homesteader when..."

When you leave the sprinkler on over night, just so you can enjoy the icicles in the morning!!!

;) THANKS FOR SHARING!

-- heather (h.m.metheny@att.net), March 03, 2002.

Yeah, it was pretty neat to go out there this morning and see that! Kenny and I are planning a trip to New York state soon, maybe as soon as Tuesday. It's business, not pleasure (we're hauling a couple classic trucks up there and picking up a couple to haul back), but I imagine we'll see the real stuff along the way. I've never seen snow deeper than three inches. I tried to make a snow angel in it and all I got was a mud angel. LOL! I can't wait! We're going to find a good restaurant and eat crabs and lobster 'til we pop! *grin!*

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 03, 2002.

Beautiful pictures Wingnut. Have to ask though, you cant possible be on a well to be able to leave your sprinkler on all night? If you are, I would be afraid of running out of water and the next electric bill for running the well pump all night. Unfortunatley, we have ice like that alot. Expecting 12 inches tonight of snow not ice. I am ready for spring.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), March 03, 2002.

Tracy, yep, we're on a well! It's an 18 foot deep hand-dug spring- fed one ~ Great Grandpa Wall dug it 100 years ago and it's still going strong. The recharge rate is incredible ~ we can water the garden, take a shower AND do a load of laundry at the same time without the water level dropping a bit. The electric bill for running the half-horse well pump isn't much at all. Even in July and August when we have to water for hours every night there's not much of a noticeable jump in the bill.

I'm lucky in that we have so much water here that it oozes out of the ground and feeds our two creeks. Here's a shot of Little Cypress Creek, about 200 yards due west of our house:

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 03, 2002.

Hmmm, I think did the picture link wrong! Ooops!

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 03, 2002.

Grrrr...

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 03, 2002.

Nice :>) thanks for sharing.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

Hey Wingnut--where are you going in NY State? I live on the PA/NY border-near Binghamton and we have about 1/2" of snow. The most we had all winter is 8" or so, it's been a very mild winter this year. If you're going up north maybe you'll get to see some real snow.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 04, 2002.

I think it's Syracuse where we're going, Stacy, but I'm not sure. This run if for Kenny's partner, Roy, and Roy hasn't gotten back to us yet with the details. Y'all got 1/2", huh? Cool! Maybe a bit more will accumulate before we get there! Thanks for letting me know!

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 04, 2002.

I had been working my tail off today and decided to come to the forum for a look at what everyone else was doing. What a joy it was to see the ice sculptures...they were breathtaking to me...wish I'd been there to see them in person...Thanks

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

Ooooohhhh! Pretty! Looked like the bottom of our truck after our trip to OKC this weekend in the snowstorm. We got 6 inches plus here at home 3 hours away, but it is melting some today! Our hub caps looked really neat after driving through the ice and snow! Kinda like a frozen sea anemone! Homesteaders just know how to appreciate beauty is all! :~)!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), March 04, 2002.

Tomorrow morning we're headed to Syracuse then on to Ohio! I imagine I'll see more "sea anemones" (that was a good one, Nan!). I'm glad you all enjoyed this. I sure did.

BTW, I've talked Hubby into swinging by Monticello ~ I've ALWAYS wanted to go there! How exciting!!!

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 04, 2002.

Hey Wingnut, we don't even have the 1/2" anymore it melted yesterday- it's cold tho 12 degrees when I got up this morning. When you're on Rte 17 from Monticello to Syracuse wave at me as you go by exit 79 Windsor- I live two miles from there. There are two large hills between me and the highway tho.

Syracuse might have snow, that area got lake effect recently.

Have fun!

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 05, 2002.

All I have to say is that I'm glad that is in YOUR garden and not mine! HA HA. I don't do ice. Glad you had some fun. They are neat pics, on the computer screen only, and not out my window!

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), March 05, 2002.

Well, the trip got put off 'til tomorrow morning. That's fine ~ gives me more time to look at the Monticello website so I can make the most of our visit. We've only got about two hours to see it ~ workin' on a tight schedule ~ or I'd come to see you, Stacy! LOL! Thanks for the weather report ~ maybe I'll post a question askinga bout more?

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 05, 2002.

Greenthumbelina here - in sunny South Florida, just slatherin' on the sunscreen, sippin' sweet tea (iced of course) and eatin' icecream. Still pickin' sweet cherry tomatoes out of the garden, cantaloupes are growin', carrots are up and sweet, time to cut the broccoli too. Thinkin' of takin' the kids to the beach this weekend. Life is good! Love the pictures Wingnut. They're really beautiful. I've only seen stuff like that on tv or in books! :o)

Warm Blessings to all in the north,

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), March 05, 2002.

Don't listen to Greenthumbelina in FL. About 2 years ago I had the same beautiful, glissing results as you did. We turned on our sprinklers to help our plants (insulate them). In the morning, we awoke to crystals. The Orlando Sentinel came out to take pics, they didn't make the newspaper, but they were beautiful none the less.

It gets darn cold here in FL, and this year was no exception. We can't wait for warmer weather.

Mi

-- Michele Bryant (micheleb@aol.com), March 08, 2002.